Two-county riot team trains in Elgin

Sixty riot team members from 28 law enforcement departments across Kane and McHenry counties descended on Elgin Thursday for the final team training of the year.

The morning was spent in the Elgin department’s firing range for firearm training in a variety of scenarios. The team moved to the old Sherman Hospital building for the afternoon to practice marching and line formations as well as conduct exercises with a smoke machine in zero visibility conditions.

Elgin Sgt. Matt Udelhoven, the team commander, said this would have been the first training exercise with use of Elgin’s new armored vehicle, and though the team didn’t get to use it he plans to when training sessions resume in March.

“We hope to train with it,” Udelhoven said. “It’s something we hope never to have to use, but it’s a great tool should something go bad.”

The riot team is composed of all ranks of officers from the participating departments. It formed with federal funds in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina hit.

The group travels throughout the state and the country to respond to natural disasters or highly attended conferences or rallies like the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, the G-20 Convention in Pittsburgh or the minuteman rally in Harvard.

Training happens every other month in a completely federally funded program.

Udelhoven said the goal is to be ready to help other departments in situations where there is a need for more officers and resources.